High Fashion: Art that you can wear. 

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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.

Haute Couture is the highest form of fashion, every stitch, every design is custom-made and it is a form of artwork.

In order for each designer to be considered to be Haute Couture they must belong to the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture in Paris, France, which is regulated by the French Department of Industry. Fashion is art that you can display and wear, and each one of these Haute Couture designers is praised on their ability and creativity to think outside of the box in the world of fashion. They are risk takers who produce beautiful pieces of art. The reason for choosing each one of these pieces for my exhibition is because of the beauty that has been created at the highest level of fashion. Each designer is fairly well known in the world of fashion and must follow very strict procedures in order for their designs to be considered Haute Couture. Each designers and their dresses respectably have also been an inspiration to the fashion world today and been the ones who initially pushed the envelope to what fashion is today. By the end of this exhibit, I hope for it take people through a journey of fashion history.

Reception Dress: Day Bodice, Evening Bodice and Skirt, Charles Frederick Worth (British, b.1826, d.1895), 1877 - 1878, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
I chose this dress because this is what we picture when we think of the 1800’s. Classic dresses that includes a lot of details as well as this was the epitome of what high fashion was at the time.
Dress, Madeleine Vionnet (French, b.1876, d.Circa 1975), 1926 - 1927, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
As we enter the 20th century, fashion becomes less big and heavy dresses and lighter silhouette dresses with bold colours. Madeline Vionnet beautifully displays bold colours; it is a huge change from the 1800’s.
Dress Suit, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, 1929 - 1931, From the collection of: The Mint Museum
Coco Chanel is a legend in the fashion world; she pushed the fashion envelope and took huge leaps out of the fashion box. This design perfectly depicts what was originally consider a masculine suit with a famine touch. All while keeping with the classic colour of black.
Evening Dress, Charles James (British, b.1906, d.1978), 1956, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Charles James is said to be the father of Haute Coulter and it is no mystery why. This evening dress is beautiful in its own right because it is a re-take on the classic little black dress. What makes it stand out is the skirt of white silk faille, Charles James considered his garments to be works of art.
Installation view, ball gown, Christian Dior, 1957, Original Source: http://www.fashionmuseum.or.jp/museum/index120419.html
Christian Dior designs know how to make a women feel sexy, romantic, and beautiful. This dress that he created in 1957 is everything that a women from that era would be feeling. Especially with such a deep passionate red colour.
Installation view, evening dress, Yves Saint Laurent, 1966, From the collection of: Kobe Fashion Museum
Yves Saint-Laurent knew how to make an Haute Couture dress sparkle and standout. Especially because this dress was produced during the swinging sixties. From the material, length, style, colour, and detail this beautiful dress stands out in its own category as Haute Couture fashion.
Installation view, evening dress, Cristobal Balenciaga, 1966, Original Source: http://www.fashionmuseum.or.jp/museum/index120419.html
This is another beautiful dress from the sixties, but Cristobal Balenciaga went in another direction. This is more of a simple dress with beautiful flower cut outs all over the dress. Although simple it is elegant and does not look like it would fall under the category of Haute Couture, but this is what high class fashion is about, thinking outside the box or in this case, thinking inside it.
Guepiere Dress, Jean-Paul Gaultier, 1988[ca], From the collection of: Museo del Traje, Madrid
Jean Paul Gaultier is all about creating wild and out there designs and this dress is the perfect representation of the 80’s. Short corset style dress, low cut and tight fitting, with straps. The fabric is a shiny orange cotton and viscose mix satin. It is hard to believe that this little dress would be considered to be Haute Couture with its short corset style, very low cut and tight, and created with a shiny orange and viscose mixed satin fabric. Just think Madonna on her Blonde Ambition tour.
Dress, Christian Lacroix, 1990, From the collection of: Museo del Traje, Madrid
From afar this gorgeous black dress, by Christian Lacroix, just looks like a simple black dress, but up close you can see the beautiful detail of the beading by the bust while the evasé skirt is created with a triple layer of pleated tulle in an asymmetrical pattern, which is longer at the back giving it a more romantic style.
Installation view, evening dress, Alexander McQueen, 1999, Original Source: http://www.fashionmuseum.or.jp/museum/index110421.html
Alexander McQueen is the breath of fresh air in the high fashion world in the sense that he was always pushing the boundaries of high fashion. This evening dress is the perfect example of what Alexander McQueen is capable of creating. The style and detail that was put into this dress is astonishing. It’s as if every part of the dress has its own story and together they make the wearer fierce, yet feminine. The dress itself stands out in the crowd which any designers or artist wants to achieve with their work.
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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
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